MW media days – Mendenhall’s race to rebuild

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The 2024 Mountain West media summit came to a close on Thursday with the coaches. In total, there are seven new coaches in the conference, including UNM coach Bronco Mendenhall.

There is plenty of rebuilding and re-structuring around the conference and that can clearly be seen with the Lobos. Even after over 60 roster moves, Mendenhall is confident that he can get the Lobos to a bowl game. He has done it in 16 out of 17 years in his coaching career and feels like he has the blueprint.

“The longest it has taken to return to postseason in either of the previous two jobs I had as a head coach is year two,” said Mendenhall. “I like our team. I like their resolve and I think they are gritty, I think they are tough, and I think they know what they signed up for.”

Mendenhall has been viewed as a great motivator during his time coaching, but the landscape has vastly changed since he was at Virginia. After a three-year coaching hiatus, there are some things he has had to adjust to.

“The roster management and the financial management those two things are taking up more of my time than probably the rest of my career combined in those two areas. That is not a complaint that is just, has it changed, it has.”

Even with so much change around the program, there is a new sense of hype around the 2024 Lobos. Mendenhall feels it, and he hopes the community will too.

“I can imagine great football with a full stadium and it’s not a stretch for me to say and think that. I think the players believe the same. I am not guaranteeing anything other than that I think it is possible.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.